Non-removable opener

ABSTRACT

A metal can cover having a non-detachable flap with an attached opener. A scored line forming an almost closed curve weakens an area of a metal can cover to form a flap that can be hinged about a portion of metal between the ends of the line. The opener is a substantially rigid structure attached securely to the flap and has a pressure end of relatively restricted size to place high pressure in a limited area of the flap in a region of the scored line remote from the hinged area. At the opposite end of the opener from the pressure end is a handle end. The opener may be attached to the flap by integral folded portions, or a tongue of the material of the opener may extend from the pressure end toward the handle end to be attached to a central region of the flap by an integral rivet. A second rivet may be used to attach the opener to the flap at a point between the first rivet and the pressure end to assure that the flap will break free over the length of the scored line so that both the flap and the opener can be folded into the can. In any case, the arm remains relatively close to the flap as the latter pivots inwardly and does not interfere with drinking or pouring liquid from the can.

United States Patent 1 Harmon July 15, 1975 i NON-REMOVABLE OPENERCharles N. Hannon, 27 Sargent Rd, Scarsdale, NY. l0583 221 Filed: Oct.18,1973

[2!] Appl, No.: 407,480

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.324.577, Jan I8.

1973, abandoned.

[76] Inventor:

Primary ExaminerGeorge T Hall Almrney. Agent, or Firm-Donald P.Gillette. Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A metal can cover having a non-detachable flap with anattached opener. A scored line forming an almost closed curve weakens anarea of a metal can cover to form a flap that can be hinged about aportion of metal between the ends of the line. The opener is asubstantially rigid structure attached securely to the flap and has apressure end of relatively restricted size to place high pressure in alimited area of the flap in a region of the scored line remote from thehinged area. At the opposite end of the opener from the pressure end isa handle end. The opener may be attached to the flap by integral foldedportions, or a tongue of the material of the opener may extend from thepressure end toward the handle end to be attached to a central region ofthe flap by an integral rivet. A second rivet may be used to attach theopener to the flap at a point between the first rivet and the pressureend to assure that the flap will break free over the length of thescored line so that both the flap and the opener can be folded into thecan. In any case, the arm remains relatively close to the flap as thelatter pivots inwardly and does not interfere with drinking or pouringliquid from the can.

38 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures NON-REMOVABLE OPENER This is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 324,577, filedJan. 18, 1973, now abancloned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field Of The Invention This inventionrelates to the field of metal can covers with attached opening devices.In particular, it relates to the type of metal can cover that is scoredto weaken a flap area that can be broken open relatively easily by meansof an attached opener but remains attached to the rest of the cover.

2 The Prior Art In recent years there has been a tremendous growth inthe use of metal can covers that have a handle, or tab, attached by anintegral rivet to a removable section that is completely circumscribedby a closed scoring line. Such cans are opened by pulling up on the taband tearing the removable section completely away.

Unfortunately, a great many people simply drop the tab and removablesection wherever they happen to be, and the resultant accumulation ofthese small, shiny bits of metal on the ground is not only unsightly buthas become such a nuisance that governmental bodies have begun to takenote. lf dropped in the water they are a menace to fish. Increasingpressure is being brought to bear on legislative bodies to have suchcans declared illegal, and there is, at the present time, a great amountof effort to invent a can that can be opened as easily as present-daycans and yet have a flap that can be bent down but cannot too easily beremoved. It is, of course, possible to throw away the entire can insteadof placing it in a suitable disposal receptacle, but this is moreOhvious littering, and people seem to be more likely to refrain fromdoing that.

One of the problems in the design ofa cover for a can from which peoplemay drink directly is to construct the opening arrangement in such a waythat the user is not likely to get cut. Another problem is to avoidhaving the person who opens the can stick his finger through the openingand into the contents within the can. Still another problem is to makeit possible to open the can rather easily but not so easily that it canhappen accidently. For example, the opening device must not cause thecan to be even partially opened if it is struck by the edge of anothercan. And the necessary scoring of the can must not cause any leaks.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an openingarrangement for opening a metal can cover by means of a flap thatremains hinged to the remainder of the cover.

A further object is to minimize the force required to open the can.

Other objects will become apparent from the following specificationtogether with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the presentinvention a relatively rigid opener is attached to a flap area of ametal can cover. The flap is defined by a scored line that forms analmost-closed loop. The metal between the ends of the scored line formsa hinge about which the flap eventually pivots after forward andsomewhat upward pressure has been exerted on the opener.

The opener has a pressure end and a handle end and is attached to thecover by integrally formed means drawn from the metal in the flap area.The pressure end is constricted or tapered to a point or at least to anarea of small dimensions so that, when forward and somewhat upwardpressure is ecerted on the handle, pivoting the opener about theattachment means, the constricted end breaks the scored line thatdefines the flap, and forces the flap downwardly by concentratingpressure on or near an edge of the flap area in a central portion of thescoring line, i.e., the portion farthest from the hinge area. Once aninitial break has occurred at the scored line as a result of pressure ofthe constricted end on that immediate area of the flap, the remainder ofthe scored line can be torn somewhat more easily if continued forwardpressure is applied to the handle.

The flap may be made stiff enough by forming it so that it does not liein a single plane and by means of a stiffening rib, or ribs, ifnecessary. The means that holds the opener in place on the flap is soplaced that the entire flap folds substantially as a unit rather thancurling sharply under when forward and upward pressure is applied to thehandle. However, it is undesirable to have the flap pop free, sharply.This pressure can be continued until the whole flap, together with thehandle, pivots about the remaining integral metal hinge and folds intothe can out of the way. Once the flap has started to tear free, thecontinued pressure should be more forward than upward and, at the end,may even be downward, into the can.

The opener must be rigid enough not to fold up as a result of thepressure applied to it in opening the flap, and yet it must have enoughflexibility so that it can be raised sufficiently to allow the personusing it to get a finger far enough under it to apply full force withoutany difficulty and to cause the pressure end to make the initialindentation in the scored line. One way of doing this is by forming theopener with a tongue of metal that extends in the direction oppositethat of the pressure end. The sides of this tongue are separated fromthe metal that forms the handle itself, in this case, a U- shapedstructure surrounding the tongue. Rivet means, including at least oneintegral rivet near the pressure end, hold this type of opener in placeon the flap. Preferably, a second rivet that passes through the outerend of the tongue is also used. The tongue serves in part as a spring,and may be separately formed as such to allow a certain limited,movement of the handle and yet return the handle to close parallelrelationship with the flap when the latter is folded into the can. Therivet through the tongue may be looser than the rivet near the pressureend and it may also be larger. The flap may be further strengthened byproviding one or more ribs' in it. The strengthening may be controlledby the size, shape and number of ribs, as well as by the width, thickness, and inherent rigidity of the material out of which the opener ismade.

A further means that has been found extremely useful in allowing the armto have the initial flexibility to produce the initial breach in thescored line yet provide the arm with the necessary final rigidity toprevent it from bending. This further means is the provision of one ormore straps formed integrally from the material of which the arm isformed and having a configuration that suits the aforementionedrequirements.

As an alternative to attaching the opener by one or more rivets,projections may be drawn from the flap BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a perspectiveyiew ofa metal can with opening means constructedaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lid of the can of FIG. 1in its opened position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the can in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view similar to FIG. 3 but an earlier stage ofmanufacture and before the opener has been attached.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the metal can cover of FIG. 3 alongthe line 55'.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the metal can cover of FIG. 3 alongthe line 6-6.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view ofa metal can cover showing amodified opener constructed in accor dance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the opener of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an opener suitable for use in the embodiment inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top view of a still different embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. II shows a fragmentary top view of another embodiment of theinvention. I

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a fragment of the lid in FIG. ll.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 shows an intermediate stage of manufacture of an opener for usein the embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 shows a later stage in the manufacture of the opener in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view of still another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view of yet another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of an opener with a pair of reforcing straps.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the opener in FIG. 18.

FIGS. 20-23 are plan views of alternative embodiments of openers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The can in FIG. 1 comprises acylindrical body 11 and separately attached ends 12 and 13. The end 13is a thin sheet metal cover constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, and it has a flap 14 defined by a scored line 15. The entirecentral area of the flap 14 is pressed out of the plane of the remainderof the cover 13 and in this embodiment is displaced toward" the interiorof the can II. The metal of the cover 13 is weakened only where thescoring exists, and the unscored section between the ends 16 and 17 ofthe line 15 retains enough strength to serve as a hinge for the flap 14.l

An opener is attached to the flap 14 by two rivets l9 and 21 formedintegrally as part of the metal of the cover. The opener includes ahandle end 22 and a tapcred pressure end 23 that terminates in a pointor at least an area of small dimensions. The handle end 22 is generallyU-shaped configuration and the ends of the U are attached to thepressure end. A tongue 24 formed of the material of which the opener 18is formed extends from the pressure end into the open area of the handleend and the rivet 21 passes through this tongue. The other rivet 19passes through a section at the pressure end between the tongue 24 andthe tip of the pressure end. i

In order to open the can ll pressure is put on the underside of thehandle 22 to, raise it. The tongue 24 allows some flexibility so thatthe pressure end 23 can be rocked downward and thus exert a highpressure per unit area on the flap immediately adjacent the centralregion of the scored line 15.. Due to the weakening effect of the scoredline, the metal of the cover 13 breaks at the point where ,pressure isgreatest. The initial movement .of the opener 18 should be as a leverpivoted about the fron rivet 19 to obtain the greatest moment arm withrespect to pressure on the handle 22. However, once a break starts, lesspressure is required on the handle 22 to continue tearing the metalalong the line 15. Then it is possible and desirable for the center ofrotation of the opener 18 to shift back from the front rivet 19 in thedirection of the rear rivet 21. The pressure on the handle 22 changesfrom upward to forward, that is, toward the edge of the cover 13 beyondthe pressure end 23 of the arm. As a result, the entire flap 14,together, with most of the opener 18, is able to pivot into the can, 11about a pivot 27, as shown in FIG. 2, in response to continued forwardpressure on the handle 22. The flap ,14 may be slightly curved or bentin being separated from the ,rest of the cover 13 in order for thescored line 15 to tear smoothly, but it must not curl under tightly orbend sharply at any intermediate point because that would leave thehandle 22 sticking forward into the open area where it would bedangerous or at least an impediment to a user. The opener 18 must besufficiently rigid to stay relatively close to the flap 14 after thelatter has been pivoted inwardly, as shown.

FIG. 3 shows the cover 13 in greater detail. Almost completelysurrounding the scored line 15 and the flap 14 is a raised ridge 26. Itis desirable to strengthen the cover 13 outside of the flap l4, and theridge 26 provides the extra rigidity. The cover could also bestrengthened by pressing the ridge inwardly or by depressing the wholearea around the flap 14, but the need to stack the covers 13 prior touse must be kept in mind, and the configuration shown permits goodstacking. Further, the ste between the ridge 26 and the downwardlysloping wall just inside the perimeter of the flap 14 is at or near theoriginal level of the cover I3 and serves as the location ofthe scoredline 15.

The locations of the rivets l9 and 21 are shown more clearly in FIG. 4,which illustrates the cover 13 before the opener 18 has been attached toit. As may be seen, the scored line IS that describes the flap I4 is inthe shape of a racetrack, which is complete except for a small section27 between the ends Hand 17. This section will later be the hinge and isfarthest from the central section of the scored line 17, which is thepart closest to the perimeter of the cover 13. This places the hinge outof the way when the contents of the can are to be drunk or poured outafter it has been opened. The flap 14 may be furtherstrengthened by ribs28 and 29 in the otherwise flat floor of the flap 14. These ribs may beparallel or not. In order to concentrate the strengthening effect towardthe rear to prevent the flap from buckling just after it is opened, theribs may be slanted toward each other at the ward the flap.

FIG. 5 shows the cover 13 in an enlarged crosssectional view. Some ofthe material displaced when the line 15 is scored forms a slight mound31 at the periphery of the flap 14, and the tipe of the constricted end23 is formed to have a beak 32 that strikes this mound when the handle22 is raised. The metal is workhardened in forming the ridge 26 and informing the sloping depression of the flap l4, and the distance betweenthese two work-hardened locations must be great enough to allow the line15 to be scored in relatively soft metal. Otherwise the metal tends tocrack and leak due to formation of the line 15.

The opener 18 is curved or bent so that the beak is normally slightlyremoved from the flap until the handle is raised. In accordance withstandard practice, the opener 18 may be made of relatively thin sheetmetal, and in order to stiffen it, it may be ribbed or some of the edgesrolled under. or both. This particularly is true in the region of thehandle 22. The opener and flap may also be strengthened by making therivet 21 larger than the rivet 19. In order to cause the flap 14 topivot open more smoothly, line 15 may be scored more deeply at thecentral region than elsewhere. What is important is that the opener 18have enough figidity to tear the metal at the cover 13 along the line 15without folding the handle end 22 forward, yet the opener must beflexible enough to allow its handle end 22 to be levered up out of thedepressed flap 14 by finger pressure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cover 13 showing thestrengthening ribs 28 and 29 and further showing that, except at the tipof the handle end 22, the opener 18 is substantially completely belowthe level of the top of the ridge 26.

FIG. 7 shows a can cover 13 with a different form of flap 34. The flap34 is defined by the same scored line 15 as before (although adifferently shaped curve may be used instead of the racetrackconfiguration.) An opener 33 is held in place not by integral rivets butby four integral projections 37-40 drawn from the material of the flap34 and folded over on top of the opener.

The opener 33 has a handle end 42 and a pressure end 43. On the sides ofthe opener are two flanges 44 and 46 that are held by the projections 38and 40. The opener 33 may be made as stiff as necessary, but the flanges44 and 46 may have the flexibility to provide a limited freedom ofmovement to allow the pressure end 43 to make the initial tear in thecentral region of the scored line 15.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view that shows the way the projections37-40 are folded over to grip the opener.

FIG. 9 shows a slightly modified opener 47 that includes a pair of tabs48 and 49 that extend beyond the projections 37-40 in FIG. 7 and make itimpossible for the opener to slip backward. The handle end 51 of theopener 47 is also made wide enough to keep the opener from slippingforward and into the can after the flap 34 in FIG. 7 has been pivotedinwardly. The edges of the opener 47 may be rolled to strengthen it, andextra ribs 52 and 53 may also be added, if necessary.

FIG. 10 shows an opener 54 that has no flanges similar to the flanges 44and 46 of FIG. 9 but is simply formed with enough flexibility to allowits pressure end 56 to tear the scored line 15. The opener 54 is held inplace by only two projections 57 and 58 that are drawn integrally fromthe material of a modified flap 59. The opener has a solid handle end 61in keeping with the operation of the opener. That is, the opener in anyof the embodiments of this invention is intended to be raised and pushedforward toward the opening rather than pulled away from the opening. Thehandle end 61 is shown as having several stiffening ribs to prevent itfrom folding forward as it is raised. These ribs are shown as extendingonly over the handle end and not into the pressure end, but thepreferred configuration of the handle and pressure ends may include oneor more of the ribs extending into the pressure end.

FIG. 11 shows a further modification in which there is a narrow shelf 62between the reinforcing ridge 26 and the flap 14. In contrast to theprior embodiments, in which the scored line 15 was right at the base ofthe ridge 26, the structure in FIG. 11 has a scored line 63 in thecentral region of the shelf 62. This is also shown in FIG. 12 and hasthe advantage of keeping the line 63 in an area that is not quite somuch subjected to workhardening. For that reason, or others, it iseasier to start the initial tear in the line 63 to start separating theflap 14 from the remainder of the lid. The rounded inner surface of theridge 26 is desirable as a safe surface for the upper lip of anyonedrinking from the can, as well as to strengthen the cover 13.

The scored line terminates in two rearwardly extending sections 64 and65. The metal in the region 67 between these sections is the hinge areafor the flap 14, and by extending the sections 64 and rearwardly, thebend formed at the hinge area will be less sharp and there will be lessdanger of having the flap l4 snap off and fall into the can. Instead,the flap can bend inwardly in a controlled curl at the region 67.

FIG. 11 also shows an opener 68 having a constricted pressure end 69 anda handle end 71 is attached to the flap by two rivets 72 and 73, thelatter being larger to control the smoothness of opening the flap 14.The opener 68 may be provided with a V-shaped stiffening rib 74 tocontrol the stiffness of the opener, if necessary, to improve, further,the smoothness of opening of the flap 14. The edges also may be rolledto stiffen the opener. The constricted end may be provided with aV-shaped indentation 76 to form a sharper point and to work-harden thepressure end 69 for making the initial incision more easily along thescored line 63.

In the embodiment in FIG. 13 an opener 77 is shown attached to the flap14 by only one rivet 78. The opener has stiffening ribs 79 and 81 and isshaped to fit snugly within the central depression in the flap 14 sothat it will always be correctly angularly oriented for its pressure end82 to apply concentrated pressure to the proper section of the flap toopen it most easily even though the opener is attached by only a singlerivet 78 or other attachment means of the type shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show steps in the manufacture of an opener 84 similar tothe opener 77 in FIG. 13. As shown in FIG. 14, separate sections of astrip of aluminum may be blanked off to form the opener, each sectioncomprising a main portion 86 and a side flap 87 preferably less thanhalf the length of the main portion. The side flap 87 can be followedover the main portion 86 or under it to stiffen the opener. As in thecase of the opener 77, stiffening ribs 88 and 89 are added and the edgesmay be rolled. The pressure end 91 is squared off and creased with aV-shaped crease 92 as shown in FIG. 15.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show alternative structures in which an opener 93 has acentral opening 94 between its han dle end 96 and its pressure end 97. Arivet 98 through the opener 93 and through a short reinforcing strap 99attaches the opener to the flap 14. In FIG. 16 the strap 99 is under theopener 93, while in FIG. 17 it is on top of the opener and passesthrough the hole 94. In either case it is also attached by a secondrivet 101 to the flap 14 to help strengthen the flap. This may make theribs shown in FIG. unnecessary. As in all of the embodiments, thestiffening of the flap 14 should be sufficient to keep the flap frombending sharply and to keep the handle end 96 close to the flap afterthe latter has been pivoted downwardly.

FIG. 18 shows a plan view and FIG. 19 a crosssectional view of anotherembodiment of an opener 102. The opener 102 is held in place on a flap103 by means of a front rivet 104 and a rear rivet 106. A central part107 of the opener 102 adjacent the rivet 104 is depressed below the rim108, and the rear part of this depressed section 107 forms a tongue 109through which the rear rivet 106 extends.

The sides of the tongue 109 are defined by two integral straps 111 and112 formed from the same piece of metal as the opener 102. The outeredges of the straps 111 and 112 extend from a rear part of the handleend 113 of the opener 102 to a point adjacent the front rivet 104. Theforward parts of these edges define the forward parts of the sides ofthe tongue 109. The inner edges of the straps 111 and 112 extend fromthe handle end 113 to a point at least forward of the rear part of therivet 106, that is, the part of the rivet that faces the handle end 113,and these inner edges define the sides of the rearward-facing end of thetongue 109. In FIG. 18, the inner edges of the straps 111 and 112 areshown as extending as far forward as the rivet 104.

As shown particularly in FIG. 19, the strap 111, which is the only oneof the two straps 111 and 112 visible in that figure, has its centralportion displaced from a direct line between the rear end at which itmerges with the handle end 113 and the forward end at which it mergeswith the tongue 109. As is also shown in FIG. 19, the flap 103 has adepressed section 110 which is deepest at the rear and slopes to a depthof zero just forward of the center of the flap.

The purpose of the straps 111 and 112 is to facilitate tearing open theflap 103 along the scored line 15. Initially when the handle end 113 isfirst raised slightly away from the rest position shown in FIG. 19, theopener has enough flexibility due to the fact that the central part 107is attached to the rim 108 only at the front, and so it pivots about theforward rivet 104. This causes the pressure end 114 to start a tear inthe forward end of the flap 103. The relative distances between thepressure end 114 and the front rivet 104 and between that rivet and thehandle end 113 provide good leverage to make the initial incision intothe cover 13 at the scored line at the front of the flap 103. Since theflap is flat in this area, it is not work-hardened and tears relativelyeasy. Furthermore, the fact that it is not work-hardened makes itpossible to score the line 15 deeper in the forward area than fartherback toward the hinge area 115, so that the initial tear can be mademore easily.

As the forward end of the flap 103 starts down into the container 11,the opener 102 pivots about the forward rivet 104, and the flap 103bends slightly but is prevented from bending excessively by its ownreinforcing means such as ribs shown in FIG. 4, and especially by thereinforcement furnished by the straps 111 and 112. As the handle end 113is forced forward, the straps are put under tension, thus keeping thehandle end from folding forward and keeping it relatively close to theflap 103. At the same time, the center of rotation of the opener 102 is,in effect, shifted rearwardly. The straps 111 and 112 may be straight,but preferably they are bent, for example as shown by the strap 111 inthe cross-sectional view in FIG. 19.

Instead of providing two entirely separate straps 111 and 112, FIG. 20shows a modified version of an opener 116 in which a single strap 117 isconnected between the rearward facing end of the tongue 118 and thecentral part of the handle end 119. The strap 117 may be made straight,but preferably it will be bent as much as or even more than the straps111 and 112 in FIG. 18 to allow the initial freedom of motion of thehandle end 119 to force the pressure end 121 to start the tear along thescored line 15.

A further modification is shown in FIG. 21 in which the forward end of asingle strap 122 on an opener 123 is bifurcated so that it has twoforward portions 124 and 125 that join the tongue 109 in the same manneras the two separate straps 111 and 112 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 22 shows an opener 126 with a single, curved strap 127 that skirtsthe rear rivet 106 and merges with the central section of the tongue 128between the front rivet 104 and the rear rivet 106.

Although reference has been made to a front and rear rivet in a numberof embodiments, it is possible to replace these rivets by a single,elongated rivet 129, as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 23. This rivetis formed of the material of the flap 131 and extends through a tongue132 of an opener 133 in the same manner as the two rivets 104 and 106 inthe embodiments in FIGS. 18-22. This embodiment has the same two straps111 and 112 as the embodiment in FIG. 18, and the outer edges of thestraps 111 and 112 in FIG. 23 extend farther forward than the rivet 129and curve slightly inwardly to define the forward end of the tongue 132.The inner edges extend only a little farther forward than the rear partof the rivet 129.

What is claimed is: 1. A metal can cover comprising: A. a scored lineforming an almost-closed curve in said cover near the perimeter thereofand defining a flap;

B. a substantially rigid opener comprising:

1. a pressure end; and 2. a handle end; and

C. means integral with said flap engaging and retaining said opener inan area of said opener removed from said pressure end, whereby upwardpressure on said handle end causes said pressure end down to break saidscored metal and pivot said flap into said can, said scored lineextending on both sides of said opener for at least substantially thefull length of said opener.

2. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which the section of the metalcover between the ends of said scored line forms a hinge for said flap,said hinge comprising a rear end of said flap and the distal portion ofsaid flap comprising a front end.

3. The metal can cover of claim 2 in which said flap is deformed tostrengthen it.

4. The metal can cover of claim 3 in which said flap is concavelydeformed as viewed from the outer surface thereof,

5. The metal can cover of claim 3 in which a portion of said flap isdepressed, said portion being closer to said hinge than to said pressureend.

6. The metal can cover of claim 5 in which said portion has a forwardend juxtaposed to an intermediate region of said opener between saidpressure end and said handle end and the depth of depression of saidportion increases toward said hinge.

7. The metal can cover of claim 2 in which:

A. said handle end is generally U-shaped and is closer to said rear endof said flap than is said pressure end and comprises, in addition, atongue of material extending from said pressure end into the open areaof said handle end; and

B. said means engaging and retaining said opener comprises a rivetintegral with said flap and extending through said tongue to hold saidopener on said flapv 8. The metal can cover of claim 7, comprising, inaddition, an integral strap having a rear end joined to the portion ofsaid handle end farthest from said front end of said flap and a frontend joined to said tongue.

9. The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said front end of said strapis joined to the proximal end of said tongue.

10. The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said front end of said strapis bifurcated and defines the sides of said tongue and is joined theretoforward of the portion of said rivet facing said rear end of said flap.

11. The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said strap is substantiallystraight.

12. The metal can cover of claim 8 in which said strap is bent.

13. The metal can cover of claim 7 comprising. in addition: a secondrivet extending from said flap and through said opener between saidfirst-named rivet and said pressure end.

14. The metal can cover of claim 13 comprising, in addition, an integralstrap having a rear end joined to the portion of said handle endfarthest from said front end of said flap and a front end curved aroundsaid first-named rivet and joined to said tongue between said rivets.

15. The metal can cover of claim 7 comprising, in addition, first andsecond integral straps substantially symmetrically spaced on oppositesides of said rivets and each having a rear end joined to a rear portionof said handle end and a front end extending alongside said tongue andjoined thereto forward of the portion of said rivet facing said rear ofsaid flap.

16. The metal can cover of claim 15 in which a cen tral portion of eachof said straps is displaced from a straight line joining the front andrear ends thereof.

17. The metal can cover of claim 15 comprising, in addition. a secondrivet extending through said opener between said first-named rivet andsaid pressure end, each of said straps having an outer edge that extendsfrom said rear end of the respective strap to a point substantiallyalongside said second rivet and an inner edge that extends from saidrear end of said respective strap to a point forward of the portion ofsaid firstnamed rivet facing said rear of said flap.

18. The metal can cover of claim 7 in which said handle end issubstantially rigid and said tongue of material has sufficientflexibility to allow said handle end to be raised enough to engage saidpressure end with said flap.

19. The metal can cover of claim 7 in which said pressure end of saidopener is formed so as to be slightly displaced from contact with saidflap prior to raising of said handle end,

20. The metal can cover of claim 19 in which said pressure end has aV-shaped cross-section with the edge thereof facing said flap.

21. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which said opener comprisesstrengthening means extending from a region of said handle end to aregion of said pressure end.

22, The metal can cover of claim 21 in which said strengthening meanscomprises ribs formed in the surface of said opener within the perimeterthereof.

23. The metal can cover of claim 21 in which said strengthening meanscomprises folded over edges of said opener.

24. The metal can cover of claim 23 in which the central portion of saidopener around said rivet is displaced downwardly.

25. The metal can cover of claim 1 comprising integral rivet meansextending longitudinally along said opener.

26. The metal can cover of claim 25 in which said rivet means comprisesleaves integrally formed of the material of said flap adjacent saidopener and folded over edge portions of said opener to exert pressurethereon over a perceptible length thereof.

27. The metal can cover of claim 26 in which said opener comprises acentral region having a width sufficient to fit between said folded overmeans and extensions beyond said folded over means on each side thereofto prevent said opener from sliding out of engagement with said foldedover means.

28. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which said means integral withsaid flap comprises a first rivet, said cover comprising, in addition:

A. a separate reinforcing strap of metal, said first rivet extendingthrough said strap and said opener in the pressure end region of saidopener; and

B. a second rivet extending through said strap at a location of saidflap farther removed from said pressure end than said first rivet.

29. The metal can cover of claim 28 in which said strap is between saidopener and said flap.

30. The metal can cover of claim 28 in which said opener has a centralopen area between said pressure end and said handle end, and said firstrivet extends from said flap through said opener and one end of saidstrap in that order, and the other end of said strap extends throughsaid open area and is engaged by said second rivet within said openarea.

31. The metal can cover of claim 2, comprising, in addition, a rib atleast partially surrounding said scored line to strengthen the portionof said cover surrounding Said flap.

32. The metal can cover of claim 31 in which said ribe is raised abovethe level of the adjacent area of said cover.

33. The metal can cover of claim 32 in which the central region of saidflap is depressed below the level of the area of said cover adjacent andoutside of said rib.

34. The metal can cover of claim 32in which said cover comprises a steparea between said raised rib and said depressed region of said flap, andsaid scored line is in said step area.

35. The metal can cover of claim 34 in which said scored line is locatedimmediately adjacent said rib.

36. The metal can cover of claim 34 in which said scored line is locatedin a substantially flat region of said step area spaced from said riband the depressed region of said flap.

37. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which:

said pressure end to strengthen said opener.

1. A metal can cover comprising: A. a scored line forming analmost-closed curve in said cover near the perimeter thereof anddefining a flap; B. a substantially rigid opener comprising:
 1. apressure end; and
 2. a handle end; and C. means integral with said flapengaging and retaining said opener in an area of said opener removedfrom said pressure end, whereby upward pressure on said handle endcauses said pressure end down to break said secored metal and pivot saidflap into said can, said scored line extending on both sides of saidopener for at least substantially the full length of said opener.
 2. ahandle end; and C. means integral with said flap engaging and retainingsaid opener in an area of said opener removed from said pressure end,whereby upward pressure on said handle end causes said pressure end downto break said secored metal and pivot said flap into said can, saidscored line extending on both sides of said opener for at leastsubstantially the full length of said opener.
 2. The metal can cover ofclaim 1 in which the section of the metal cover between the ends of saidscored line forms a hinge for said flap, said hinge comprising a rearend of said flap and the distal portion of said flap comprising a frontend.
 3. The metal can cover of claim 2 in which said flap is deformed tostrengthen it.
 4. The metal can cover of claim 3 in which said flap isconcavely deformed as viewed from the outer surface thereof.
 5. Themetal can cover of claim 3 in which a portion of said flap is depressed,said portion being closer to said hinge than to said pressure end. 6.The metal can cover of claim 5 in which said portion has a forward endjuxtaposed to an intermediate region of said opener between saidpressure end and said handle end and the depth of depression of saidportion increases toward said hinge.
 7. The metal can cover of claim 2in which: A. said handle end is generally U-shaped and is closer to saidrear end of said flap than is said pressure end and comprises, inaddition, a tongue of material extending from said pressure end into theopen area of said handle end; and B. said means engaging and retainingsaid opener comprises a rivet integral with said flap and extendingthrough said tongue to hold said opener on said flap.
 8. The metal cancover of claim 7, comprising, in addition, an integral strap having arear end joined to the portion of said handle end farthest from saidfront end of said flap and a front end joined to said tongue.
 9. Themetal can cover of claim 8 in which said front end of said strap isjoined to the proximal end of said tongue.
 10. The metal can cover ofclaim 8 in which said front end of said strap is bifurcated and definesthe sides of said tongue and is joined thereto forward of the portion ofsaid rivet facing said rear end of said flap.
 11. The metal can cover ofclaim 8 in which said strap is substantially straight.
 12. The metal cancover of claim 8 in which said strap is bent.
 13. The metal can cover ofclaim 7 comprising, in addition: a second rivet extending from said flapand through said opener between said first-named rivet and said pressureend.
 14. The metal can cover of claim 13 comprising, in addition, anintegral strap having a rear end joined to the portion of said handleend farthest from said front end of said flap and a front end curvedaround said first-named rivet and joined to said tongue between saidrivets.
 15. The metal can cover of claim 7 comprising, in addition,first and second integral straps substantially symmetrically spaced onopposite sides of said rivets and each having a rear end joined to arear portion of said handle end and a front end extending alongside saidtongue and joined thereto forward of the portion of said rivet facingsaid rear of said flap.
 16. The metal can cover of claim 15 in which acentral portion of each of said straps is displaced from a straight linejoining the front and rear ends thereof.
 17. The metal can cover ofclaim 15 comprising, in addition, a second rivet extending through saidopener between said first-named rivet and said pressure end, each ofsaid straps having an Outer edge that extends from said rear end of therespective strap to a point substantially alongside said second rivetand an inner edge that extends from said rear end of said respectivestrap to a point forward of the portion of said first-named rivet facingsaid rear of said flap.
 18. The metal can cover of claim 7 in which saidhandle end is substantially rigid and said tongue of material hassufficient flexibility to allow said handle end to be raised enough toengage said pressure end with said flap.
 19. The metal can cover ofclaim 7 in which said pressure end of said opener is formed so as to beslightly displaced from contact with said flap prior to raising of saidhandle end.
 20. The metal can cover of claim 19 in which said pressureend has a V-shaped cross-section with the edge thereof facing said flap.21. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which said opener comprisesstrengthening means extending from a region of said handle end to aregion of said pressure end.
 22. The metal can cover of claim 21 inwhich said strengthening means comprises ribs formed in the surface ofsaid opener within the perimeter thereof.
 23. The metal can cover ofclaim 21 in which said strengthening means comprises folded over edgesof said opener.
 24. The metal can cover of claim 23 in which the centralportion of said opener around said rivet is displaced downwardly. 25.The metal can cover of claim 1 comprising integral rivet means extendinglongitudinally along said opener.
 26. The metal can cover of claim 25 inwhich said rivet means comprises leaves integrally formed of thematerial of said flap adjacent said opener and folded over edge portionsof said opener to exert pressure thereon over a perceptible lengththereof.
 27. The metal can cover of claim 26 in which said openercomprises a central region having a width sufficient to fit between saidfolded over means and extensions beyond said folded over means on eachside thereof to prevent said opener from sliding out of engagement withsaid folded over means.
 28. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which saidmeans integral with said flap comprises a first rivet, said covercomprising, in addition: A. a separate reinforcing strap of metal, saidfirst rivet extending through said strap and said opener in the pressureend region of said opener; and B. a second rivet extending through saidstrap at a location of said flap farther removed from said pressure endthan said first rivet.
 29. The metal can cover of claim 28 in which saidstrap is between said opener and said flap.
 30. The metal can cover ofclaim 28 in which said opener has a central open area between saidpressure end and said handle end, and said first rivet extends from saidflap through said opener and one end of said strap in that order, andthe other end of said strap extends through said open area and isengaged by said second rivet within said open area.
 31. The metal cancover of claim 2, comprising, in addition, a rib at least partiallysurrounding said scored line to strengthen the portion of said coversurrounding said flap.
 32. The metal can cover of claim 31 in which saidribe is raised above the level of the adjacent area of said cover. 33.The metal can cover of claim 32 in which the central region of said flapis depressed below the level of the area of said cover adjacent andoutside of said rib.
 34. The metal can cover of claim 32 in which saidcover comprises a step area between said raised rib and said depressedregion of said flap, and said scored line is in said step area.
 35. Themetal can cover of claim 34 in which said scored line is locatedimmediately adjacent said rib.
 36. The metal can cover of claim 34 inwhich said scored line is located in a substantially flat region of saidstep area spaced from said rib and the depressed region of said flap.37. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which: A. said means engaging andretaining said opener comprises a first rivet passing through saidopener adjacent the pressure end thereof; B. said opener comprises: acentral open area between said ends and a tongue extending from saidpressure end into said open area; and C. a second rivet passing throughsaid tongue, said second rivet being of larger diameter than said firstrivet.
 38. The metal can cover of claim 1 in which said opener is asheet metal having a flap extending from an edge region at the pressureend thereof and folded over said pressure end to strengthen said opener.